Trial-plate clamp.



G. B. SNOW. TRIAL PLATE CLAMP. -APPLIOATION FILED APR. 13, 1914.

1,119,051, Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

, 4. gwimdduz/fi (7mm HE NORRIS PETERS C0,. PHOTO-L|THO WASHINGTON D. r?

' UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE 13. snow, or LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR To THE sNow'nnn'rAL COMPANY, or BUFFALO, NEW Yomg-A conronarron on NEW YORK.

. TRIAL-PLATE CLAMP.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE B. SNOW, of the city of Long Beach, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trial-Plate Clamps, of which the following is specification.

This invention relates to a device used by dentists in the course of the construction of full upper and lower dentures, for holdrelation to each other, and which can be more easily handled and a-pplled than are those in common use.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 shows the upper and lower trial plates and their respective plaster casts, with one of my clamps applied to retain the trial plates in their correct relative positions; the long.

axis of the clamp being disposed vertically. Fig. 2 is a similar illustration of the trlal -plates,plaster casts and clamp, but in this instance, the clamp is applied with its long axis disposed horizontally. Fig. 3 is alateraliview of my clamp. Fig. 4: is an end view of the same. 1

One. clamp is'applied to each side of the trial plates, in the region occupied by the bicuspid teeth, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The trial plates are composed of two parts; a thin plate,'which covers that'portion of the roof of the 'mouthjand gums which is to be hereafter covered by the dentures, and a thick portion or rib, which represents the teeth which are to be mounted upon the plate. H

In the drawings, in which similar numerals denote similar parts in the different figures, 1 denotes the upper plaster cast, 2 the upper trial plate, 3 the rib, or part corresponding to the alveolar border on the same, 4: therib of the lower trial plate 5, and 6 the lower plaster model. The-clamp 7 is intended to be punched from sheet Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

Application filed April 13, 1914. Serial No. 831,532.

metal with its prongs S radiating diago-. nally from its body; so that when bent at right angles thereto, their fiat surfaces will be disposed diagonally to the long and short axes of the body of the clamp, as shown. After the trial plates have been fitted to the mouth, and their alveolar ridges 23 trimmed so that they come into close contact, and their labial and buccal surfaces trimmed to form a continuous surface,

which gives the correct expression to the lips and cheeks, they are clamped together by forcing the prongs 8 of the clamp 7 into the ribs 2'and 3, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. If the ribs are-of considerable thickness, the clamp 7 may be attached thereto with its long axis vertical, as shown in Fig. 1. If the I'lbS are thinner, the clamp is attached with its long axis horizontal, in order to avoid wounding the gum of the patient, as

shown in Fig. 2.

In order that the clamp may be conveniently handled, I show a flange or project1on 9, forced upfrom the body of the clamp 7 by means of a half punch. By means of this flange, the clamp 7 may be picked up and carried to place by using the ordinary dentists foil tweezers; These will hold the clamp securely if they are applied to the flat surfaces of the flange 9, and will carry the clamp to the trial plates as shown in Fig. 1, with its long axis vertical. But it is necessary that the tweezers should be applied in a line with the lips of the patient, or the occlusal surfaces of the trial plate. and if it is desired to apply the clamp 7 with its long axis horizontal, as shown in Fig. 2, the hold of the tweezers upon the edges of the flange 9 would be insecure. I therefore show a perforation 10 in the flange 9, into which a slim tapered instrument 11 can be forced, and will hold the clamp so that it can be conveniently ap plied as shown in Fig. 2. And if, as is sometimes the case, it is desired to heat the clamp 7 before its insertion into the ribs 23 of the trial plates, the flange 9 affords a means of carrying it into the flame of a lamp for that purpose.

. Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and patentable,

1. A trial plate clamp having four prongs and a body with long and short axes; the

said prongs having their fiat sides disposed metal, having a flange or handle turned updiagonally to the said axes; substantially as Ward from its body, with a perforation 1;

described. therein; as and for the purposes set forth. 2. A trial plate clamp formed from sheet metal, having a flange or handle turned up- '1 GEORGE SNOW Ward from its body; substantially as de Witnesses: scribed. C. P. KETELsoN,

3. A trial plate clamp formed from sheet J. W. LANE.

Copies of this patent ma? be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

